Train or beauty luggage cases



1967' E. H. HEITLER ETAL 3,306,402

TRAIN OR BEAUTY LUGGAGE CASES Filed June 20, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 2e 27 F/ uvvewrms.

EMMETT H. HE/TLER WILLARD a AXTELL ROBERT K rum/(.4 ROGER a wnvm? Feb. 28, 1967 TRAIN OR BEAUTY LUGGAGE GASES Filed June 20, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 s 3. '6 [7 if [5 J l) I6 '3 I8 202 20%) g 20 3 I f; he. 20- I 2mm L 12 ,2o zo 23 1 L Fig. 5.

//V VENT 0R8 EMMETT H. HE/TLER WILLARD G AX TELL ROBERT K. FUJ/O/(A ROGER 0. WINTER ATTORNEYS Feb. 28, 1967 E. H. HEITLER ETAL 3,306,402

TRAIN OR BEAUTY LUGGAGE CASES Filed June 20, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 IN VE N TORS.

EMMETT H HE/TLER WILLARD 6. AX TELL ROBERT K F UJ/O/(A ROGER D. Wl/V TE R flTTOR/VEYS -Z 1967 E. H; HEITLER ETAL. 3,306,402

7 TRAIN OR BEAUTY LUGGAGE GASES Filed June 20, 1963 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 60' W60 65 GIWGO' 6%0' INVENTORS. EMMETT H. HE/TLER WILLARD 6 4X TELL ROBERT K. FUJ/O/(A ROGER 0. WINTER ,9 Y MM A TTOR/VEXS Feb. 28, 1967 E. H. HEITLER ETAL TRAIN OR BEAUTY LUGGAGE CASES 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 Filed June 20, 1965 W M M QO NHTW W H u .AF mfi T N W A M E Maw E ROGER 0. WIN TEI? E. H.'HE|TLER ETAL 3,306,402

TRAIN OR BEAUTY LUGGAGE CASES Feb. 28, 1967 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 Filed June 20, 1965 V/NVEIVTORS. EMMETT H. HE/TLER WILLARD a AXTELL ROBERT K. FUJ/OKA ROGER 0. WINTER ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,306,402 TRAIN 0R BEAUTY LUGGAGE CASES Emmett H. Heitler, Denver, and Willard G. Axtell, Englewood, Colo., Robert K. Fujioka, Los Angeles, Callf.,

and Roger D. Winter, Denver, Colo., assignors, by

mesne assignments, to Samsonite Corporation, Denver,

Colo., a corporation of Colorado Filed June 20, 1963, Ser. No. 289,187 15 Claims. (Cl. 190-49) This invention relates to luggage cases, and more particularly to train or beauty cases.

With the advent of airplane travel, during which luggage cases are subjected to extreme abuses, not only is the strength and resistance to wear an important factor, but also the weight of the luggage case. Although a train or beauty case is normally smaller in size than other luggage cases and thus is often carried by the passenger, it is also often consigned to the baggage compartment of a plane, which causes it to receive the usual rough treatment. Also, the weight of articles carried in a train or beauty case may often exceed the weight, per unit volume, of the articles in other types of luggage cases, so that a train or beauty case must withstand the stresses imposed by a comparatively heavy load inside the same. A train or beauty case should be easy to open and close and to use, since the contents are normally more frequently removed and replaced than the contents of other types of luggage cases. In addition, in order to attract purchasers, a train or beauty case should be manufactured sufliciently economically that it can be sold at a price attractive to the purchaser.

Among the objects of this invention are to provide a novel luggage case, particularly a train or beauty case; to provide such a luggage case which is light in weight but does not sacrifice resistance to wear and abuse; to provide such a luggage case which is easy to open and close and to use; to provide such a luggage case which will adequately resist deformation, not only by weight or other forces imposed while the luggage case is in an upright position, but also when the luggage case is placed in other positions; to provide such a luggage case which is relatively simple in construction; and to provide such a luggage case which can be manufactured economically.

Additional objects and the novel features of this invention will become apparent from the description which follows, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a luggage case comprising a train or beauty case and constructed in accordance with this invention;

FIG. 2 is an end elevation of the luggage case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of an upper shell which forms part of the luggage case of FIG. 1, a portion of the shell at an upper corner being broken away;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of a lower shell, a portion of the shell at a lower corner being broken away;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary top plan View, on a considerably enlarged scale, of one corner of the lower shell of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the luggage case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 7-7 of FIG. 1, through one of the latches which connect the two halves of the case together at the front;

FIG. 8 is a section similar to FIG. 7, but taken along line 8-8 of FIG. 1 adjacent the end of a latch;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 9-9 of FIG. 2, at one end of the case;

FIG. 10 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 10-10 of FIG. 6, through one of the hinges which pivotally connect the two halves of the case together at the rear;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 11-11 of FIG. 6 through the other hinge and showing the position of the hinge parts when the case is open;

FIG. 12 is a fragmentary vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 12-12 of FIG. 1, through a handle support at the top of the case;

FIG. 13 is a rear elevation of an upper frame, which forms a part of the luggage case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 14 is a top plan view of the upper frame of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a front elevation of the upper frame of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a front elevation of a beam, which forms a load bearing member of the case of FIG. 1 and interfits with the upper frame of FIG. 15 when the luggage case is closed;

FIG. 17 is a rear elevation of the beam of FIG. 16;

FIG. 18 is a top plan view of the beam of FIG. 16;

FIG. 19 is a fragmentary front elevation, on a further enlarged scale, showing one end of the upper shell of FIG. 3, with the lower corner broken away;

FIG. 20 is a fragmentary front elevation, on a further enlarged scale, and partly broken away, of an upper corner of the lower shell of FIG. 4;

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of a hinge pin forming part of the luggage case of FIG. 1;

FIG. 22 is a front elevation of a luggage case, similar to FIG. 1, but showing an alternative construction in which the beam extends over and conceals the frame;

FIG. 23 is an end elevation of the luggage case of FIG. 22;

FIG. 24 is a top plan view of the luggage case of FIG. 22;

FIG. 25 is a fragmentary, vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 25-25 of FIG. 22, but showing an alternative latch construction;

FIG. 26 is a fragmentary, vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 2626 of FIG. 23, at one end of the case;

FIG. 27 is a fragmentary, vertical section, on .an enlarged scale taken along line 27-27 of FIG. 24, through one of the hinges which pivotally connect the two halves of the case together at the rear;

FIG. 28 is a top plan view of the upper frame;

FIG. 29 is a front elevation of the upper frame of FIG. 28;

FIG. 30 is a rear elevation FIG. 28

FIG. 31 is a top plan view of the beam;

FIG. 32 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 32-32 of FIG. 31, through the latch recess; and

FIG. 33 is a vertical section, on an enlarged scale, taken along line 33-33 of FIG. 31, showing the cross sectional configuration of the beam adjacent a latch recess.

A luggage case constructed in accordance with this invention, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, includes upper and lower, opposed concave sections which fit together when the case is closed, in the position shown, with a beam B of the lower section comprising a load bearing member. The beam B provides recesses for receiving a pair of latches L and L, which may be of the typeof US. Patent No. 3,034,327, or any other suitable type, such as indicated below. The beam B is mounted at the top of the lower section of the luggage case, which includes a deeper concave shell S, conveniently molded from a suitable plastic,

such as the acrylonitrile butadiene styrene copolymer of the upper frame of known as ABS. The upper edge of shell S extends into a groove on the under side of beam B, while a frame F is adapted to interfit with the beam B when the case is closed and is provided with a groove which receives the lower peripheral edge of a shallower shell S, which is conveniently formed of the same material as shell S.

Thus, the beam B forms an edge means for one of the shells, while the frame F forms an edge means for the other shell.

Frame F also carries a pair of hooks or the like for engagement with the latches L and L, while the sides and rear of beam B, as well as a portion of the front, are overlapped by frame F, in a manner described later, so that they are not visible from the outside of the luggage case, when closed. For carrying purposes, a handle is mounted on a handle support 11, attached centrally to upper shell S, while the upper and lower halves or sections of the luggage case are pivotally attached together at the rear, as by a pair of hinges H, which are conveniently formed integrally with the beam B and frame F and which permit the luggage case sections to be opened, through pivotal movement about the hinges, when the latches L and L are opened. The beam B and frame F are each conveniently formed by die casting, as of a suitable light weight metal, such as an aluminum or magnesium alloy.

The shells S and S have convex walls, and also have upper and lower edges, respectively, which are similar in contour, but as indicated above, lower shell S is considerably deeper than upper shell S. Thus, as in FIG. 3, shell S has a convex front wall 12, convex end walls 13 and a convex rear Wall 14 which are joined by rounded corners, as shown. Shell S also has a convex top wall 15 which, at its junction with the front, rear and end walls, as in FIG. 6, is provided with a circumferential, relatively flat, angular rim 16 and inwardly therefrom an arcuately con-cave groove 17 formed by an arcuately formed, inwardly extending corrugation 18, as in FIG. 3, for strengthening the shell. The front wall 12 of shell S is provided with a notch or cutout 19 which corresponds to the space occupied by the frame F, as well as holes 20 in the front wall 12 and rear wall 14 for attachment pins, described later. Shell S, as in FIG. 4, has a considerably deeper, convex front wall 21, convex end walls 22 and a convex rear wall 23 which are joined by rounded corners, as shown. Shell S has a flat bottom 24 which is connected to the remaining walls by an angular rim 25 which is flat in a transverse plane, but otherwise follows the contour of the front, rear and end walls. Bottom 24 is further provided, at each corner, with downwardly sloping portion 26 connecting with a downwardly offset, conveniently triangular foot 27, into which rim 25 extends, as in FIG. 5 Each foot 27 is provided with a hole in which a rivet 28 may be mounted, with a solid head on the underside of the foot, then headed over on the inside, as in FIG. 4. Rivets 28 will contact any surface on which the case is placed in upright position, as in FIGS. 1 and 2, while feet 27 and angular surfaces 25 and 26 will provide a resiliency to resist impact, in the event a heavy load is placed suddenly on top of the case. The front wall 21 of shell S is provided with a notch or cutout 19', corresponding to the space occupied by beam B, and with holes 20 in the front and rear walls for attachment pins.

The ends and rear of frame F, as in FIGS. 9 and 10, are formed with a head 30, from which a wider flange 31 extends upwardly on the inside, and a thicker flange 32 on the outside, which extends in parallel relation to inner flange 31 to provide a groove into which the peripheral edge of the shell S fits, as shown. A thinner flange 33, also on the outside, extends downwardly or in the opposite direction from flange 32, with the outer surfaces of flanges 32 and 33 being continuous and smooth or provided with any desired surface configuration, preferably of an attractive nature, since this outer surface is visible on the exterior of the case. Flange 33 is thinner to accommodate head 34 of beam B and, so as to overlap the same, is also slightly wider than head 34 and outside flange 35 of beam B, the latter of which, in conjunction with wider, inside flange 36, provides a groove for receiving the peripheral edge of shell S, as also shown. Head 30 and flanges 31, 32 and 33 of frame F and also head 34 and flanges 35 and 36 of beam B extend around onto the front of the case, as in FIG. 1, with frame F overlapping beam B in the same manner.

Each hinge H, as in FIG. 10, comprises an ear 38, formed integrally with frame F and extending downwardly and rearwardly therefrom, and an ear 39, formed integrally with beam B and extending rearwardly and slightly downwardly from outside flange 35 thereof. Ears 38 and 39 are connected by a hinge pin 40 which, as in FIG. 21, is provided with a reduced section 41 which is conveniently longitudinally knurled to engage a corresponding hole in ear 39, which may be proportioned to provide a drive fit, for attachment of the hinge pin therein. The larger diameter section of pin 40 is received by a corresponding hole in ear 38, for pivotal movement therein. As in FIG. 6, ears 39 are each on the inside, opposite the head of the corresponding hinge pin. The upper portion of car 38 extends over ear 39, while ear 38 is provided centrally with a narrow abutment 42, also shown in FIG. 12 and which, as in FIG. 11, engages a narrow abutment 43 at the edge of ear 39, shown also in FIGS. 16 and 17, to hold the case top in an upright position when raised. Flange 33 of frame F is also provided with a notch 44, beneath each ear 38, as in FIG. 13, to accommodate the corresponding ear 39. Since hinge ears 38 extend rearwardly as well as downwardly from frame F, the top of the case need not be raised to a perpendicular position to be held open, but is disposed slightly forwardly of such a position, since all that is necessary for the abutments 42 and 43, as in FIG. 11, to hold the top of the case upright, is for the center of gravity of the top of the case merely to be slightly rearwardly of the centerline of hinge pins 40. This also reduces the stress on the hinges, when the case is maintained in open position.

Handle 10 and handle support 11 may be constructed in any suitable manner, the handle conveniently being formed of a suitable plastic molded about a reinforcing rod (not shown) whose ends extend inwardly from the lower ends of the handle and are pivotal in angle clips, a portion of the lower leg 45 of one of which is shown in FIG. 12. Each clip is received in the handle support and is attached by a screw 46, which extends into an integral block 47 to clamp the handle support block against the lower leg of each clip, which has a hole engaged by the lower end of block 47. Screws 46 extend through top wall 15 of shell 8', reinforced at each screw by a Washer 48, and also clamp peripheral flange 49 of the handle support against the top surface of the shell. Handle support 11, which is conveniently die cast, is hollow on the inside at appropriate positions, to reduce the amount of metal used, in a conventional manner.

The front, rear and ends of frame F are bowed outwardly, as in FIG. 14, to correspond to the contour of the upper edges of shell S, while a front portion 50 of frame F is offset upwardly, as in FIG. 15, with an upwardly extending leg 51 at each side thereof. Outside flange 32 and also inside flange 31 continue upwardly along each leg 51 and across offset portion 50, as in FIGS. 14 and 15, providing a groove for receiving the lower edge of shell S, along notch 19. The underside of offset portion 50 is flat, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, to provide one side for each latch recess 52 of beam B, but provided at the center with a U-shaped groove 53, shown in dotted lines in FIG. 14, for a purpose described later. At spaced positions on offset portion 50, corresponding to the positions of latches L and L, inside flange 31 is provided with upwardly extending tabs 54, each having a pair of rivet holes 55, for attachment by rivets 56, as in FIG. 7, of the upper ends of a pair of complementary, offset hooks 57, the lower offset portion of each of which is provided with a notch adapted to engage an appropriate part of the latch L or L. The central portion of each hook 57 is received in a slot 58 in the underside of offset portion 50, which notch extends through a rearwardly extending flange 59, which in turn provides a notch or shoulder for a purpose described below. The inside flange 31 is provided at spaced positions with upwardly extending tabs or ears 60 having holes 61 for rivets whose heads are disposed be tween the shell S and the respective ears 60 and extend inwardly into the case, for heading over onto the lining, to attach the same in position, while inside flange 31 may also be provided with a series of holes 62, at the front as in FIG. 13, and at the rear as in FIG. 15, for shell attachment pins, described later.

The beam B, as in FIGS. 7, 8, 16 and 18, is provided at the front with a lower, outside flange 65 having upwardly extending, end extensions 66, flange 65 and extensions 66 being thicker than flange 35 but similarly disposed in generally parallel relation to inside flange 36-, to form therebetween a slot for receiving the upper edge of shell S, as shown in FIGS. 7 and 8. The upper edge of each end extension 66 forms a shoulder against which the lower edge of flange 32 of frame F, just below each leg 51, may abut or approach closely when the case is closed. As will be evident from FIG. 1, the line of this abutment, indicated at 67, and the line at the top of the center post 68 of beam B, are the only portions of the parting line between the case sections which are clearly evident when the case is closed, since the remainder of the parting line is hidden by the overlap of flange 33 of frame F on beam B and by the interfitting of frame F and beam B along the upper edges of the latch recesses 52. The front surface of center post '68 and the front surface of flange 65 are conveniently smooth to provide a pleasing appearance. The recesses 52, for receiving the respective latches L and L, are formed by inwardly oflset walls 69 on opposite sides of center post 68, while the surface of the outer end 70 of each recess preferably slants outwardly, as in FIG. 18, to facilitate access to a lift lever 71 of the respective latch, shown in FIGS. 1 and 7. The upper edge of the rear wall 72 of each recess 52, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, engages the notch or shoulder formed by flange 59 of frame F, while the edge of rear wall 72, as in FIG. 18, extends as a flange 73 along the top of the thickened outer end 70 of each recess. Each rear wall 72 of each recess, as in FIG. 16, is conveniently provided with a notch 74 to accommodate the central portion of the corresponding hook 57. Center post 68 is conveniently hollow on the inside, as in FIG. 18, while the upper end thereof is provided with an upstanding, U-shaped flange 75 adapted to interfit with groove 53 in the underside of frame F, the latter being shown in dotted lines in FIG. 14, as indicated previously. The rear wall 72 of each latch recess is provided with a series of holes 76 for receiving rivets or screws for attachment of latches L and L, while inside flange 36 of beam B is provided with a series of spaced, depending tabs 60 having holes 61 therein, for the same purpose as tab 60 and holes 61 of frame F. Also, flange 36 is provided with spaced holes for attachment pins corresponding to holes 62 of frame F and corresponding in posiion to holes 20 in shell S.

Shells S and S may be attached to the beam B and frame F, respectively, in any suitable manner, such as by staking prongs into the respective shells, or by a series of spaced pins 77, as in FIG. 8, which are inserted in holes 62 provided for that purpose in the inside flange 31 of frame F and driven through holes 28 in the respective shell and into the opposite flange 35 or 65 and 32, respectively. Pins 77 may be fluted, so as to be self tapping. The shell S, along its upper edge, as at 78 in FIG. 20, and the lower edge of shell S as at 79 in FIG. 19, may be reduced in thickness to fit more readily into the grooves provided in beam B and frame F, respectively.

As will be evident, when the two halves of the luggage case are closed, the hooks 57 will not only interlock with the respective latches L and L, but the beam B and frame F will interfit, the underside of the offset portion 50 of frame F forming the opposite side of each of the recesses for the latches, as in FIGS. 7 and 8, while the lower edge of extension 80 of flange 32 of the frame F will abut against each shoulder formed by the upper edge of the corresponding end extension flange 66 of the beam B, is in FIG. 8, and will also overlap the outer end of each latch recess 52. As indicated above, upstanding U-shaped flange 75, at the center of beam B, will engage slot 53 of the frame F, while the upper edge of each rear wall 72 of the latch recesses will engage a shoulder formed by flange 59 of the frame F. Thus, the beam and the frame will be interlocked together. In addition, the frame F will overlap the beam B, along the ends and rear and a portion of the front adjacent each end, to provide a rigid framework which is resistant to distortion in any direction, with the case closed, and which is strengthened by the load bearing member, beam B. The attachment of the shell S to the beam B and the similar attachment of shell S to frame F also contribute to the stability of the case construction.

Each latch L and L may be constructed as in US. Patent No. 3,034,327, as indicated, or may include, as indicated generally in FIG. 7, a longitudinally movable slide 82 having a flange 83 adapted to engage a notch of the corresponding hook 57 and connected to lift lever 71 by a generally rectangular link (not shown) formed of rod or the like. Lift lever 71 may be channel shaped and pivoted at one end on a base 84, in which slide 82 is held by a plate 85. One side of the lift lever is provided with a notch 86 to accommodate hook 57, while a leaf spring (not shown) may engage slide 82 to urge the slide toward an open position. Lift lever 71 is also provided with a key operated lock 87, as in FIG. 1, for locking the lift lever in closed position through engagement with a portion of base 84. When the case is to be opened, each lift lever 71 is raised, moving each slide 82 longitudinally toward the adjacent end of the luggage case, so that each flange 83 will clear the corresponding hook 57. Then, the case may be opened through pivotal movement about hinges H. When the case is closed, each book 57 will enter the corresponding latch space, whereupon each lift lever 71 may be pushed down, so that each flange 83 will engage a notch in the corresponding hook 57. Preferably in closing, the lift lever is overthrown past a neutral position, so that the pressure of the spring (not shown) will maintain the latch closed. As will be evident, the position of the latches in the recesses of the beam will prevent an object moving along or across the top of the luggage case from accidentally opening the latch. Thus, an outward force on the underside of the free end of the lift lever is necessary to open either latch.

In the alternative embodiment shown in FIGS. 22-33, a beam B overlaps a frame F of FIGS. 28-30, so that the parting line, when the case is closed, will be hidden around the periphery of the luggage case by the beam. In this embodiment, shells S and S are constructed in the same manner as before and hence need not be further described, other than to note that corresponding parts of shells S and S have the same reference numerals in FIGS. 22-24 as in FIGS. 1-6. Thus, the principal difference between the two embodiments is in the construction of the beam and the frame. As before, beam B and frame F are each conveniently formed by die casting, as of a suitable light weight metal, such as an aluminum or magnesium alloy.

As in FIGS. 29 and 30, the front frame F is provided with an upwardly offset portion 89 to accommodate the front portion of beam B, while as in FIGS. 25-27, the front, ends and rear of frame F are formed with a head 90, from which a wider flange 91 extends upwardly, on the inside, and a narrower flange 92 extends upwardly, on the outside, in parallel relationship to inner flange 91 to provide a groove into which the peripheral edge of shell S fits, as shown. At each side of the front, as in FIG. 33, and along the ends and rear, as in FIGS. 26 and 27, beam B is formed with a head 93, adapted to abut head 90 of frame F when the case sections are in closed position, as shown, and is provided with a wider flange 94, extending downwardly, together with a thicker flange 95, also extending downwardly, and in spaced, parallel relationship to wider flange 94 to provide a groove for receiving the upper edge of shell S. A thinner flange 96, on the outside, extend-s upwardly from head 93 or in the opposite direction from flange 95 and is adapted to overlap flange 92 of frame F. The beam B also overlaps the frame F at the front of the case in a similar manner, which will be described below. Thus, the beam B completely conceals frame F when the case sections are closed, so that no parting line is visible.

Each hinge H, as in FIG. 27, comprises an ear 97, formed integrally with frame F and extending upwardly and rearwardly from outside flange 92 thereof, and an ear 98, formed integrally with beam B and extending rearwardly and upwardly from outside flanges 95 and 96 thereof. Ears 97 and 98 are connected by a hinge pin 99, which may be similar to hinge pin 40 of FIG. 21, being provided with a reduced section which is conveniently longitudinally knurled to engage a corresponding hole in car 97, which may be proportioned to provide a drive fit, for attachment of the hinge pin therein. The larger diameter section of the hinge pin is received in a corresponding hole in the ear 98, for pivotal movement therein. As in FIG. 24, ears 97 are each on the inside, opposite the head of the corresponding hinge pin. The upper portion of ear 98 extends over ear 97 to provide an abutment 100, as in FIG. 31, which is adapted to engage ear 97 to hold the case top in an upright position when raised to an open position. As before, the top of the case need not be raised to a perpendicular position to be held open, but is disposed slightly forwardly of such a position, since all that is necessary, to hold the top of the case upright, is for the center of gravity of the top of the case merely to be slightly rearwardly of the centerline of hinge pins 99.

The front, rear and ends of frame F are bowed outwardly, as in FIG. 28, to correspond to the contour of the upper edges of shell S, while an upwardly extending leg 101, as in FIG. 29, connects the upwardly offset front portion 89 of frame F. Outside flange 92 and also inside flange 91 continue upwardly along each leg 101 and across offset portion 89, providing a groove, as in FIG. 28, for receiving the lower edge of shell S along notch 19 of FIG. 3. Conveniently, the shell is held in position in the groove by means of a suitable adhesive and a plurality of clips spaced along the edge of the shell and constructed in accordance with the invention disclosed in the application of Willard G. Axtell, Serial No. 266,699, filed March 20, 1963, now U.S. Patent No. 3,207,275 of September 21, 1965. Alternatively, the shell may be fastened to frame F by means of pins which extend through holes, similar to holes 62 in flange 31 of FIG. 8. At spaced positions on upwardly offset portion 89, corresponding to the positions of latches L and L, inside flange 91 is provided with upwardly extending tabs 102, each having a pair of rivet holes 103, for attachment by rivets 104, as in FIG. 25, of the upper ends of a pair of complementary hooks 105, the lower portion of each of which is provided with a notch adapted to engage an appropriate part of latches L and L.

The beam B, as in FIGS. 22 and 25, is provided at the front with a central post 110 which connects a downwardly offset, front depending flange 111 and an upwardly offset, upwardly extending flange 112, with the former being connected at each end to flange 95 by an integral flange portion 111 and the latter at each end with flange 96 by an integral flange portion 112', as in FIGS. 22 and 23. A depending inside flange 94, as in FIG. 25 and similar to flange 94, extends in parallel relation to lower outside flange 111, across the lower portion of the front of the beam, to provide a groove for receiving the upper edge of shell S along notch 19' of FIG. 4. At each side of center post 110, beam B provides recesses 113 for the respective latches L and L, such recesses having a bottom wall 114, a rear wall 115, having an outwardly curving end 116, as in FIG. 31, and atop Wall 117, having a slot 118 through which hook extends. The walls of the recesses are conveniently formed integrally with each other and with center post and flanges 111, 111, 112 and 112'. Upwardly extending flange 112, when the case sections are in the closed position, overlaps flange 92 of frame F, so that, as will be evident from FIG. 22, there is no parting line which shows because frame F is hidden by upper flanges 112, flange portion 112 and upper flange 96 of beam B. Thus, beam B will overlap frame F to provide a rigid framework which is resistant to distortion in any direction, when the case is closed, and which is strengthened by the load bearing member, beam B.

As in the previous embodiment, latches L and L may be constructed as in U.S. Patent No. 3,034,327, as previously described in connection with FIG. 7. Or, to accommodate a straight hook 105 rather than an offset hook 57 of FIG. 7, each latch may be modified, as in the case of latch L of FIG. 25. Such a latch may include a longitudinally movable slide 120 having a flange 121 adapted to engage a notch of the corresponding hook 105 and connected to a lift lever 122 by a link (not shown). Lift lever 122 may be channel shaped, as shown, and pivoted at one end within latch recess 113 by means of a pin extending through holes 123, shown in FIG. 31. On one side, the lift lever is provided with a notch 124 to accommodate hook 105, while a leaf spring (not shown) may engage the slide to urge the slide toward an open position. The lift lever is also provided with a conventional, key operated lock 87, as in FIG. 22, for locking the lift lever in closed position, the lock extending rearwardly from left lever 122 and having a tumbler adapted to engage a slot 125 in an inwardly extending lock receptacle 126, as in FIG. 32, which is integral with the rear wall of latch recess 113. When the case is to be opened, each lift lever 122 is moved outwardly, thus moving each slide longitudinally toward the adjacent end of the luggage case, so that each flange 121 will clear the corresponding hook 105. Then the case lid may be opened through pivotal movement about rear hinges H. When the case is closed, each hook 105 will enter the corresponding latch space, whereupon each lift lever 122 may be pushed inwardly, so that each flange 121 will engage a notch in the corresponding hook 105. Preferably, the lift lever is arranged so as to be overthrown past a neutral position in closing, so that the pressure spring (not shown) will maintain the latch closed. As will be apparent, the position of the latches and the latch recesses in the beam prevent an object moving along or across the front of the luggage case from accidentally opening either latch. Thus, an outward force on the underside of the free end of the lift lever is necessary to open either latch.

From the foregoing, it will be evident that the objects and requirements of this invention have been fulfilled to a marked degree. Thus, a train or beauty case has been provided wherein the luggage case is light in Weight but does not sacrifice resistance to wear and abuse. F urthermore, the luggage case is easy to open and close. The luggage case also will adequately resist deformation, not only by weight or other forces when the luggage case is n an upright position, but also When the luggage case 1s placed in other positions, and this is true even though the luggage case is of simple construction. Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the frame F overlaps beam B so that the only visible parting line is at the front of the case where the frame and beam meet. In the alternative embodiment of FIGS. 22-33, the beam overlaps the frame so as to entirely conceal the frame so that no parting line whatsoever is visible.

As will be evident, the notch 19' in the upper front edge of lower shell 8 may be deepened, so that the entire offset front portion of beam B or B will be received in the notch and the upper edge of the front portion of the beam will be level with the ends and rear thereof. In such an instance, the frame F of the first embodiment will overlap the beam but the upwardly offset front portion of the frame may be dispensed with, with a resultant elimination of notch 19 of upper shell 8'. However, such a variation will provide a less attractive appearance than the embodiments shown.

Although two embodiments of this invention have been illustrated and described, it will be understood that other embodiments may exist and various changes and other variations may be made, without departing from the spirit and scope of this invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A train or beauty case comprising:

upper and lower concave shells, each having a front wall, a rear wall, and end walls, said upper shell having a top wall and said lower shell having a bottom wall, the front wall of said lower shell having a notch extending downwardly therein and the front wall of said upper shell having a notch extending upwardly therein;

a beam extending around the edge of one of said shells and providing spaced recesses at the front of said luggage case and having at the front a portion offset both upwardly and downwardly and engaging the notch of one of said shells;

means attaching the edge of said one of said shells to said beam;

a frame adapted to interfit with said beam when said case is closed and having an offset portion engaging the notch of the other of said shells, said offset portion of said frame engaging the offset portion of said beam when said case is closed;

means attaching the edge of the other of said shells to said frame;

a handle for carrying said luggage case;

means attaching said handle at a central position to the top wall of said upper shell;

latch means mounted in each recess of said beam;

a catch for engagement with each of said latch means and mounted on said frame; and

hinge means pivoting said beam and frame together at the rear of said case.

2. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 1, wheresaid beam and frame each have an inside and an outside flange forming a groove receiving the edges of the respective shells, said outside flange of one of said beam and frame being extended to overlap said outside flange of the other of said beam and frame when said case is closed.

3. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 1, where 1n:

said lower shell is attached to said beam; and

said upper shell is attached to said frame.

4. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 3, wherein:

said outside flange of said beam overlaps said outside flange of said frame.

5. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 3, wheresaid beam is provided with downwardly extending,

inside and outside flanges forming a groove for receiving the upper edge of said lower shell, said outside flange being offset downwardly at the front of said case and having upwardly extending end extensions providing a shoulder at each upper edge thereof at the ends of said latch recesses, a front center post extending upwardly from said outside flange and forming the inner end wall of each latch recess, the rear surface of each latch recess adjacent the outer end curving outwardly, a generally U- shaped flange extending upwardly from the top of said center post, and a rear wall for each latch recess whose upper edge is disposed at the same elevation as the top of said U-shaped flange on said center post; and

said frame is provided with upwardly extending, in-

side and outside flanges forming a groove receiving the lower edge of said upper shell, said frame is also provided with a front offset having a lower edge adapted to abut the upper end of said center post and provided with a central, U-shaped groove interfitting with said U-shaped flange of said beam, each with said case closed, said offset having a rearwardly extending flange providing a shoulder engaged by the upper edge of said rear walls of said latch recesses, with said case closed, said frame is further provided with a depending flange adapted to overlap said beam around the ends and rear of said case when closed, said depending flange also overlapping said beam between said ends and the ends of said latch recesses, with said case closed, the lower edge of said depending flange abutting said shoulder at the upper ends of said end flange extensions of said beam with said case closed.

6. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 3, wheresaid beam is provided with downwardly extending, inside and outside flanges forming a groove for receiving the upper edge of said lower shell, and an upwardly extending flange opposite to but narrower than said outside flange and having an outside surface contiguous therewith, said inside and outside flanges being offset downwardly and said narrow flange being offset upwardly at the front of said case to form said latch recess, and a center post extending between said upper and lower offsets and forming the inner end wall of each said latch recess, the rear surface of each said latch recess adjacent the outer end curving outwardly; and

said frame is provided with upwardly extending, in-

side and outside flanges forming a groove receiving the lower edge of said upper shell, said frame being offset upwardly at the front of said case corresponding to said upward offset of said beam, said frame being adapted to abut said beam so that the outside flange of said frame is concealed by said upwardly extending flange of said beam when said case is closed.

7. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 6, wherein said hinge means comprises:

a pair of spaced hinge members integral with said beam and extending rearwardly from the rear of said beam;

a pair of similarly spaced hinge members integral with said frame and extending rearwardly from the rear of said frame;

a hinge pin extending through one of said hinge members and an adjacent hinge member, said hinge pin being fixed to one of said hinge members and the other hinge member being pivotal about said pin; and

an abutment on at least one hinge member for limiting the pivotal movement of the upper half of said case.

8. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 7, wherein said hinge members extend rearwardly and upwardly from said respective beam and frame.

9. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 6, wherein each said latch recess has a slot in the upper wall thereof, through which hooks mounted on said frame are adapted to extend into said-latches when said case is closed.

10. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 1, wherein:

an outside flange of said frame overlaps an outside flange of said beam at the ends and rear and a portion of the front of said case; and

said front offset portion of said frame provides a side wall for each said latch recess.

11. A train or beauty case, as defined in claim 1,

wherein said hinge means comprises:

a pair of spaced hinge members integral with said beam and extending rearwardly from the rear of said beam;

a pair of similarly spaced hinge members integral with said frame and extending rearwardly from the rear of said frame;

a hinge pin extending through one of said hinge members and an adjacent hinge member, said hinge pin being fixed to one of said hinge members and the other hinge member being pivotal about said pin; and

cooperating abutments on adjacent hinge members for limiting the pivotal movement of the upper half of said case.

12. A shell for a luggage case, comprising:

convex front, rear and end walls having an angularly disposed, inwardly extending rim around the lower edges thereof; and

a generally flat bottom wall connected to the lower edges of said rim and provided with a downwardly offset portion at each corner, said rim extending below said bottom wall to said downwardly offset portion at each corner.

13. A shell for a luggage case, as defined in claim 12,

wherein:

said downwardly offset portion at each corner of said bottom wall provides a generally triangular foot; and

each said foot is provided with a member having a head on the underside of said foot for engaging a surface on which said shell is placed.

14. A luggage case of the train or beauty case type, including upper and lower shells, each of which has end walls and side walls, with said upper shell having a top wall and said lower shell having a bottom wall, said shells having opposed edges attached to interfitting edge means, with hinges pivotally connecting said edge means together at the rear and latches detachably connecting said edge means together at the front, said luggage case having a handle mounted on said top wall, the improvement wherein:

a first edge means extends around and is attached to the edge of one of said shells and includes a beam section disposed at the front thereof but spaced from said end walls and having a greater depth than the remainder of said first edge means, said beam section having spaced recesses therein for receiving said latches and the narrower remainder of said first edge means extends around each of the corners of said shell between said front wall and said end walls;

a second edge means extends around and is attached to the edge of the other of said shells, said second edge means having a depth corresponding to that of said remainder of said first edge means; and

the front wall of at least one of said shells has a notch to accommodate said beam section.

15. A luggage case as defined in claim 14, wherein:

the opposite, upper and lower edges of said beam section and the portion of said second edge means opposite said beam section are disposed laterally from the longitudinal parting line of said case determined by the remainder of said first and second edge means; and

a lateral cutout in the front wall of the corresponding shell, spaced fromeach end wall, will fit an edge of said beam section and an edge of the aforesaid portion of said second edge means, respectively.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 163,747 5/1875 Cummings 220- X 298,146 5/1884 Wilson -28 711,881 10/1902 Rubens 190-18 1,682,057 8/1928 Wheary 190-28 1,705,150 3/1929 Brady 190-18 1,957,639 5/1934 Goodwin 220-72 2,025,101 12/1935 Halpin. 2,312,637 3/1943 Fulenwider et al. 220-72 X 2,822,900 2/1958 Kivett 190-53 2,832,448 4/1958 Axtell 190-49 2,912,080 11/1959 Ikelheirner 190-53 2,950,793 8/1960 Axtell 190-49 3,029,915 4/1962 Axtell 190-49 3,034,327 5/1962 Garmon et al. 70-70 3,112,018 11/1963 Gehrie 190-28 3,198,299 8/1965 Axtell et al. 190-49 X FOREIGN PATENTS 127,408 9/ 1928 Switzerland.

FRANKLIN T. GARRETT, Primary Examiner.

JOSEPH R. LECLAIR, Examiner.

M. L. MINSK, Assistant Examiner. 

1. A TRAIN OR BEAUTY CASE COMPRISING: UPPER AND LOWER CONCAVE SHELLS, EACH HAVING A FRONT WALL, A REAR WALL, AND END WALLS, SAID UPPER SHELL HAVING A TOP WALL AND SAID LOWER SHELL HAVING A BOTTOM WALL, THE FRONT WALL OF SAID LOWER SHELL HAVING A NOTCH EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREIN AND THE FRONT WALL OF SAID UPPER SHELL HAVING A NOTCH EXTENDING UPWARDLY THEREIN; A BEAM EXTENDING AROUND THE EDGE OF ONE OF SAID SHELLS AND PROVIDING SPACED RECESSES AT THE FRONT OF SAID LUGGAGE CASE AND HAVING AT THE FRONT A PORTION OFFSET BOTH UPWARDLY AND DOWNWARDLY AND ENGAGING THE NOTCH OF ONE OF SAID SHELLS; MEANS ATTACHING THE EDGE OF SAID ONE OF SAID SHELLS TO SAID BEAM; A FRAME ADAPTED TO INTERFIT WITH SAID BEAM WHEN SAID CASE IS CLOSED AND HAVING AN OFFSET PORTION ENGAGING THE NOTCH OF THE OTHER OF SAID SHELLS, SAID OFFSET PORTION OF SAID FRAME ENGAGING THE OFFSET PORTION OF SAID BEAM WHEN SAID CASE IS CLOSED; MEANS ATTACHING THE EDGE OF THE OTHER OF SAID SHELLS TO SAID FRAME; A HANDLE FOR CARRYING SAID LUGGAGE CASE; MEANS ATTACHING SAID HANDLE AT A CENTRAL POSITION TO THE TOP WALL OF SAID UPPER SHELL; LATCH MEANS MOUNTED IN EACH RECESS OF SAID BEAM; A CATCH FOR ENGAGEMENT WITH EACH OF SAID LATCH MEANS AND MOUNTED ON SAID FRAME; AND HINGE MEANS PIVOTING SAID BEAM AND FRAME TOGETHER AT THE REAR OF SAID CASE. 